More Aboriginal people live in Canada's cities than on reserves or remote parts of the country. Several generations have grown in relative silence until recent years when the Aboriginal community and governments began in earnest to focus on their Urban Aboriginal issues and needs. This forum is here for you to provide useful and creative information to help address those needs. Let's share what works, not just what's wrong.

"The federal budget did not contain anything to address the pressing needs of Canada's urban Aboriginal peoples."

March 24, 2011 Ottawa, ON - The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is disappointed by Tuesday’s Federal Budget announcement which made no mention of Friendship Centres or the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program (AFCP).

NAFC President Vera Pawis Tabobondung said, “Fifteen years we have gone without an increase in AFCP core funding. The Government of Canada is aware of our AFCP core funding situation, yet we [NAFC] continue to be over-looked time-and-time again in annual federal budgets. This year’s federal budget did not identify, support and/or acknowledge the efforts of our 117 Friendship Centres who provide programs and services to 54% of Canada’s Aboriginal population. The urban Aboriginal population is a significant demographic; but apparently not significant enough to be included in this year’s annual federal budget.”

For the federal government, the NAFC is an effective conduit to reach Aboriginal people living in towns and cities nationwide. Due to its large network of regional and community-based organizations, the NAFC is recognized and valued by all levels of government for providing culturally-based programs and services to urban Aboriginal people.

NAFC Executive Director Jeffrey Cyr explains, “No other agency or government department in Canada offers more programs for urban Aboriginal people. Yet, for the last 15 years, Friendship Centres have not received any increase in the AFCP core funding. Long-term sustainability requires enhancements to the funding levels that were established in 1996, and to ensure long-term sustainability of Friendship Centres these funding levels need to be examined in the context of today’s realities.”

Friendship Centres are the only providers of culturally-enhanced programs and services to urban Aboriginal residents. For over half a century, Friendship Centres have been facilitating the transition of Aboriginal people from rural, remote and reserve life to an urban environment. For many Aboriginal people, Friendship Centres are their first point of contact to obtain referrals to programs and services. Given that the Aboriginal population is the fastest growing segment of the Canadian urban population, these Centres are vital pillars in the infrastructure of urban Aboriginal society.

Pawis Tabobondung said, “The federal budget did not contain anything to address the pressing needs of Canada’s urban Aboriginal peoples. With our shared success and established relationship with government the NAFC remains puzzled as to why the Government of Canada continues to exclude the AFCP in its annual budgetary allocations. It’s just disappointing. I expected more support from the Government of Canada. Why are we being continually disregarded?”